By Emmanuel Awari, Jalingo
Taraba State has made significant progress in the fight against HIV/AIDS, with a vision to achieve an AIDS-free status by 2030, according to the Director General of the Taraba State AIDS Control Agency (TACA), Dr. Bako Ali Istifanus.
Speaking during the 2024 World AIDS Day commemoration in Jalingo, Dr. Istifanus highlighted the state’s achievements and ongoing efforts to combat the epidemic.
“From a prevalence rate of 10.5% in 2012 (NARHS) to 2.9% in 2018 (NAIIS) and now 2.29% in 2024 (Spectrum data), Taraba State has made remarkable progress,” said Istifanus. As of 2024, 43,491 individuals living with HIV in the state are receiving care, with an impressive 96% viral load suppression rate.
The successes, he noted, were achieved through strategic partnerships involving key stakeholders, including WHO, UNICEF, USAID, and local organizations such as NEPWHAN and ASHWAN. He emphasized the need to prioritize children in the HIV response, advocating for early testing, prevention of mother-to-child transmission, and increased access to pediatric antiretroviral therapy.
“Stopping HIV among children requires deliberate actions,” Istifanus said, adding, “We must prioritize the health and future of our children to break the cycle of HIV transmission and achieve our goal of ending AIDS by 2030.”
Dr. Istifanus expressed gratitude to Governor Agbu Kefas for his administration’s support and urged stakeholders to sustain investments and partnerships to ensure no one is left behind.
State Health Commissioner Highlights Facility Upgrades
Dr. Bodiya Buma, Commissioner for Health, commended the state government for upgrading healthcare facilities to enhance performance.
He noted that Taraba State has embraced the 2024 World AIDS Day theme, “Take the Right Path, Sustain the HIV Response and Stop HIV Among Children to End AIDS in Nigeria by 2030.”
“The state government has consistently funded TACA for the procurement and distribution of HIV testing kits across healthcare centers,” Buma said.
He also revealed plans for a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Achieving Health Nigeria Initiative (AHNI) to accelerate epidemic control efforts.
Mrs. Ladi Johnson Abraham, state coordinator of the Network of People Living with HIV/AIDS (NEPWHAN), called for expanded testing kits and increased funding to TACA. She raised concerns over a shortage of test kits, which could hinder awareness campaigns and treatment.
“Shortages in hospitals are affecting our efforts to determine the status of infants born to HIV-positive mothers,” she said, urging the government to allocate more funds to TACA rather than relying solely on development partners.
Governor Agbu Kefas, represented by Chief of Staff Dr. Jeji Williams, reiterated the government’s commitment to achieving an AIDS-free status by 2030. “We will continue to invest in health to ensure no one is left behind in our efforts to end HIV/AIDS,” Williams stated.
The event underscored Taraba State’s determination to sustain targeted actions and investments in health, with children at the forefront of the fight. Stakeholders believe these efforts can create a future free of AIDS by 2030.